The trailblazers
Meet the Safari Guides Who Make It All Possible
At Mark Thornton Safaris, our team of veteran safari guides is the backbone of every unforgettable journey. With decades of experience, deep roots in Tanzania, and a shared passion for wilderness, they bring both knowledge and heart to every trip.
Emmanuel Chagamba - The Human GPS of the Serengeti
Raised on the western edge of the Serengeti, Chagamba learned the bush from an early age. With years of experience — first as a tracker in the Selous and later as a lead guide for some of Tanzania’s top safari camps — he now brings 12 years of leadership to MTS.
His calm demeanor, field reliability, and intuitive grasp of terrain make him one of the most respected safari guides in Tanzania. On foot or behind the wheel, Chagamba is your anchor in the wilderness.
Gian Schachenmann - The Adventurer, Filmmaker & Explorer
Swiss by heritage, Tanzanian by heart — Gian has guided with MTS for over 15 years. When he’s not leading photographic or walking safaris, he might be paramotoring, building canoes, or crawling into volcanoes in Congo to film lava for IMAX.
A lead cameraman on the upcoming Serengeti IMAX film (and its sequel on African elephants), Gian is also a passionate teacher, joker, and deeply committed guide. Expect adventure, enthusiasm, and the unexpected.
James Nasary - Bird Whisperer & Wilderness Storyteller
Born on the slopes of Mt. Kilimanjaro, James began his career as a mountain porter, then mountaineering guide. Through his biodiversity club, he traveled across Tanzania by bus and on foot — gaining extraordinary field knowledge, especially in birding and animal behavior.
James has guided for top safari camps across the Serengeti and Tarangire and brings a photographer’s eye and a naturalist’s insight to every trip. Whether guiding on foot or from the vehicle, he’s a brilliant spotter, storyteller, and all-around bush companion.
Mark Thornton - Founder, Guide, Conservationist, Novelist
Since 1994, Mark has led walking safaris into some of Africa’s remotest corners — and was among the very first to guide in the backcountry interiors of parks like Serengeti.
He holds a Master’s in Environmental Management and consults for major organizations like UNDP, UNESCO, and Conservation International. Off the trail, he’s also a published novelist (Kid Moses, 2011; Nothing is Wrong, 2024) and a board member for a leading conservation NGO.
Gabriel “Gabs” Kayange - The Living Legend of Game Driving
Part of the MTS family since 1998, Gabe is one of the original safari guides in Tanzania — known for his humor, humility, and encyclopedic knowledge of wildlife. He’s a specialist in Serengeti, Ngorongoro Crater, Lake Manyara, and Tarangire.
Respected by nearly every guide in the country, Gabe has led VIP guests, photographers, and filmmakers into hidden corners of the Serengeti — always finding the animals when no one else can.
Paul Swen - Photographer, Workshop Leader, Global Explorer
Based in the U.S., Paul leads several MTS photographic safaris each year. His work has taken him from Gabon to Borneo to Alaska — but his passion lies in East Africa, where he first joined Mark on a 1999 expedition to the Ugalla River.
Paul serves on multiple U.S. zoo boards, has exhibited widely, and is a gifted teacher in the field. With Paul, guests gain professional guidance, creative insight, and plenty of good humor — all essential for a perfect photography safari.
Our safari guides don’t just lead trips — they create life-changing experiences.
With them, the bush comes alive, the details matter, and no two safaris are ever the same.
“We wanted to thank you for the incredible trip you planned. I really don’t even have the words to express how life-changing and magical the whole trip was. We are in awe of how smoothly and seamlessly everything came together. ”